DIY Ideas: Creative House Numbers

Having legible house numbers is important. (Not only to do many cities require it, but how are your friends supposed to find your fabulous parties without it??) That said, there's a difference between legible and lust-worthy...

Below, are 10 ideas for making your own enviable address markers. Have you done a project like this yourself? What method did you use?

1st Row:1. Front & Center: A house number and landscaping project all in one, cement board is used to build an eye-catching new home for custom-fabricated numbers. (For a more reasonably-priced alternative, try making your own numbers. See #3.) 2. Thread Lightly: Buckets of nails and heavy-duty thread lend a crafty yet modern look to the traditional plaque of numbers. 3. Make-Your-Own Mid Century: A more affordable alternative to the coveted Neutra numbers sold at Design Within Reach, this design uses MDF and exterior-grade metallic paint to great effect. (Not a MCM fan? This project could easily be adapted using your own favorite font.) 4. Nailed It: A more rustic version than #2 — dark nails are clustered tightly together to create a simple and effective address ornament. 5. Tile Time: Contrasting colors turn handcrafted into cool in this project — using tile, stencils and paint.

2nd Row:6. Moss Graffiti: Take green-genuity to the next level and grow your own house numbers! 7. All Boxed Up : This temporary, party-friendly solution uses gift boxes, vellum and battery-operated lights to ensure that your guests easily find their way to the festivities. 8. Go-To Garden: Combine your love for green with your desire to be seen in this project, which uses the humble pot as a home for your house numbers. 9. Clean & Clear: A contemporary take on address visibility featuring inexpensive store-bought numbers and a piece of translucent Lexan. 10. Jack-o'-Light: Another temporary idea, this design takes advantage of nature's harvest by using pumpkins and tealights to create a seasonal address illuminator.